So the trail would be made up of something like very fine ash, not water vapour? That suggests it would fall to the ground and could be examined.

Yes, and that's what my friends from Russian Meteorite Сommittee are doing now

About the trail - its major components are FeO, SiO2 and SO2 in amorphous form (therefore it is colorless). Major chemical reactions at the trail formation: BEFORE the bright light -- decomposition of meteoritic troilite (FeS) and its oxidation; AT the light -- evaporation and oxidation of kamasite (Fe-Ni alloy). All these are energy-releasing, but they add almost nothing to the BOOM

No, I'm not, but it's a safe guess, based on 2 points:= the appearance is quite similar to known falls of stone meteorites= for violent shock wave high volatile content is not necessary, kinetic energy of 15-20 km/sec is quite enough.

Anyway, if they find another impact site (there should be dozens), not on the lake ice, but on the ground - we will know pretty soon what it was.

>>People tend to sneer at 'what if...?' Well, this is so far the worst meteorite event in the recorded history:= That's the very first time with injuries and substantial property damage= The last time meteorite explosion shattered windows was in 18th century

For more statistics one can check Meteorite Catalog by Monica Grady, I do not have it right now.

although I'm sure there's a silicate or metallic core around which the object formed.

In this particular video you can see narrow streak and smaller bright blob shooting out the big contrail after main flash, might that be the denser core? Attached capture, blob at the very right edge.

edit: Btw majestic lightshow on the sky, atomic bomb level bright flash, and what does the driver do? Nothing, keeps overspeeding and listening to cheesy pop like nothing happened. At least adjust the dashboard cam clock!

>>might that be the denser core?Almost certainly, no. From planetology view, it was a small fragment, about a meter or so.1. Core-shell structure forms only on a large bodies (kilometers, or, more likely - hundreds of km).Smaller asteroids do not possess gravitational "strength" to develop such structure. 2. Meter-size fragment does not have the ability even to grow ices on its surface.

The narrow streak you noted likely represents just the biggest piece after main explosion.

The vapour trail is interesting. It clearly divides into two trails, one of which suddenly vanishes. That would suggest that the object was breaking up into smaller segments as it descends. Maybe the trail that vanishes is the object that explodes and the other trail is the object that broke apart at a lower altitude and struck the lake?

Logged

"Oops! I left the silly thing in reverse!" - Duck Dodgers

~*~*~*~

The Space Shuttle Program - 1981-2011

The time for words has passed; The time has come to put up or shut up!DON'T PROPAGANDISE, FLY!!!

The meteorite didn't detonate. The explosion sounds are pieces of the meteorite going supersonic/hypersonic velocities with the largest piece having the loudest initial bang.

Edit: Large impact crater!

Another shockwave video:

Your first video is of something completely different... Entirely terrestrial.

Logged

Chris Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers. US law http://goo.gl/YZYNt0